Mr. Fantasy settled down to earn his first stakes win in the April 25 Withers Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct. After an explosive start the 3-year-old colt moved to the rail and drew away from the field crossing the wire 13Ú4 lengths ahead.

ÒHe was a little hot in the paddock,Ó said Artie Magnuson, assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. ÒHeÕs not tough to handle, but heÕs a little bit tougher than we are. I think he does better when he gets out on the course and away from everybody. I was glad it didnÕt take anything out of the race.Ó

Mr. Fantasy ran third in the March 7 Gotham Stakes (gr. III) finishing behind I Want Revenge and Imperial Council. After the Gotham, West Point Thoroughbreds president Terry Finley and McLaughlin decided to take the colt off the Triple Crown Trail and give him time to develop but may still point the colt toward the May 16 Preakness Stakes (gr. I).

The Gotham was Mr. FantasyÕs only loss. The colt broke his maiden Dec. 12, 2008, by 10 lengths and took an allowance race in February by eight lengths. Donald Brooks and Nick Cammarano partner with West Point to campaign Mr. Fantasy. Brooks purchased Mr. Fantasy for $230,000 at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds sale from Nick de Meric, agent.

Corra Cavalo Thoroughbreds bred Mr. Fantasy in New York. By E Dubai, he is out of the winning Spectacular Bid mare Twice Forbidden. Twice Forbidden is out of Sweetness (by Stalwart). Sweetness was a winner and went on to produce five winning foals.

Twice Forbidden has produced six foals and her four starters are winners. Mr. Fantasy is her third stakes winner. Her first stakes winner is Don Corleone (by Incurable Optimist) and her second stakes winner is Tin Cup Chalice (by Crusader Sword), who died in a training accident April 17, four days after being named champion New York-bred 3-year-old male.

Currently at Highcliff Farm in New York, Twice Forbidden is imminently due to deliver a foal by Silver Deputy and is booked to Tapit.

E Dubai is the sire of 12 stakes winners. His additional 2009 added-money winners are Desert Code (gr. IIIT) and What a Pear. E Dubai stands at Darley near Lexington for a fee of $15,000.ÑK.B.